Mohammad Kaif has come in support of Hardik Pandya and said that he was entitled to become the next India T20I captain. This comes after Suryakumar Yadav was named as India's captain in the 20-over format, with BCCI snubbing the all-rounder’s claim to the post.

Not only was Hardik snubbed for T20I captaincy, but he also lost his vice-captaincy in both formats with young Shubman Gill being given the responsibility on the upcoming India tour of Sri Lanka.

Mohammad Kaif opined that the BCCI selection committee should’ve backed Hardik Pandya to captain, considering his experience in leading the T20I team in the past.

"Hardik has captained the Gujarat Titans for two years and in their first year itself, they made it to the final... Hardik has experience captaining the T20I side. He was also the vice-captain at the T20 World Cup. Now a new coach has arrived, there will be new planning. Surya is also a good player...He is a No.1 T20 player (batsman). I hope he will shoulder the captain's responsibility well. But I feel they should have backed Hardik," Kaif told IANS.

"Gambhir is an experienced captain and coach...He understands cricket very well. I think 'Hardik ne aisa koi galat kaam nhi kia k unko captaincy na mile' (Hardik has not done anything wrong that he should not get the captaincy)," Kaif further said.

Hardik's captaincy stint in T20Is saw him leading the side in 16 T20Is before he got injured last year during the ODI World Cup.

He also captained Gujarat Titans to IPL 2022 title and in the final of the IPL 2023. However, his stint as Mumbai Indians skipper in IPL 2024 proved to be disastrous.

"He has experience, has captained in the IPL; and leading a new team (Gujarat Titans) to trophy, with fresh and young faces, is a huge thing. He has made the Titans win by working from zero in the IPL...I think he was entitled to the captaincy," he added.

(IANS inputs)